Kings are having their problems with three-game skid, but an emotional letdown may not be among them

An obvious explanation for the Kings’ recent slide might not be the most accurate one.

It would be easy to circle March 19 as the leading culprit. That was the night the Kings officially clinched a playoff spot, and one school of thought holds that there could be a letdown after such a accomplishment — even subconsciously.

“There really shouldn’t be,” forward Jeff Carter said. “If there is, there’s something wrong, right? You can’t just play to clinch and figure you’re going to turn it on Game 1 [in the playoffs].

“That’s doesn’t happen. I hope that’s not the feeling.”

Said defenseman Luke Schenn: “You definitely don’t want to limp into the playoffs.”

The Kings lost all three games on their trip, at Nashville, Minnesota and Winnipeg. Earlier this month they scored a combined 14 goals in consecutive wins over Chicago, Dallas and the New York Rangers. Since then, the Kings have scored six goals in four games, two in their last two.

Carter and Schenn were talking Thursday night in Winnipeg after the Jets beat the Kings, 4-1. The Kings did not practice Friday, holding off-ice workouts.

“We’ve got eight games left, a couple of weeks left to get our [act] together,” Carter said.

Of those eight, five are at Staples Center, including Saturday night’s game against the Edmonton Oilers.

“We’re getting our chances,” Schenn said. “We’re getting some zone time. A bit of a tough time scoring goals right now. In saying that, sometimes you’re going to have to win the low-scoring games.”

The Kings’ recent opponents are in different states of concern. Nashville is one of the hottest teams in the league, closing on third place in the Central Division, and Minnesota is hanging on to the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

“Teams are desperate right now,” Schenn said. “Nashville and Minnesota. Winnipeg, you could see that coming, a lot of young guys trying to prove themselves, trying to play for a job.

“That’s a different situation. Teams out of the playoffs play a little bit looser.”

Like Carter, Schenn did not think the Kings had let up, even slightly, after clinching a playoff spot.

“I thought we were half a step behind the whole game in Nashville,” Schenn said. “Minnesota and tonight, guys were putting their foot on the gas.

“Sometimes it comes down to chances. Give those teams credit. They played well against us. Teams get up to play the Kings these days.”

KINGS NEXT UP

VS. EDMONTON

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 790.

Update: Oilers rookie forward Connor McDavid had an assist in Thursday’s 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks, pushing his point streak to six consecutive games. He has had a hand in 31 of the Oilers’ 68 goals since the All-Star break. . . . Defenseman Darnell Nurse and goalie Cam Talbot did not practice Friday in San Jose, according to the Oilers’ Twitter feed, but Talbot is expected to start against the Kings.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com

Twitter: @reallisa